Page 13 - Cosmopolitan - UK (April 2020)

pla y fi l m

The true story of

The infamous 1970 Miss World competition gets the big-screen treatment
this month in Misbehaviour. No idea what happened? Let us fill you in

Starring Keira Knightley and 1
Gugu Mbatha-Raw, the film
tells two stories: that of feminist HUMBLE
activist Sally Alexander, who BEGINNINGS
Created in 1951 by
protested against the 1970 Miss British entrepreneur
World competition, and of and TV host Eric
Morley (Rhys Ifans),
Jennifer Hosten, the first-ever
the Miss World beauty VIEWING PLEASURE
black woman to win the crown. pageant started life 2 The BBC first broadcast Miss World
Here’s how all the events really as Miss World Festival in 1959. The show secured funding
played out… Bikini Girl at the from big businesses and became an annual
viewing event throughout the ’60s, reaching
Festival Of Britain
peak of 24 million viewers in 1970
summer fair. a peak of 24 million viewers in 1970.

5 FLOUR 4 PLANS FOR PROTEST 3 FEMINIST
FURY
POWER
Feminist activists the Women’s
Protestors, Liberation Movement decided to As contestants
including Sally Alexander protest at 1970’s Miss World at London’s w were judged on their
(Keira Knightley) and Royal Albert Hall, using the slogan “We’re a appearance while
Jo Robinson (Jessie not beautiful, we’re not ugly – we’re angry”. w wearing gowns and
Buckley), pelted swimwear, the pageant
Miss World host a attracted a lot of
Bob Hope (Greg c controversy, and was
Kinnear) with flour, p publicly opposed
smoke and stink b by feminists for
bombs and rotting d demeaning
fruit, calling the pageant w women.
a “cattle market”. Fair.

6 H HIS TORY IS MADE 7 THE END OF AN ERA 8
nadian Je
The BBC stopped broadcasting
WORDS EMILY GULLA. PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES/ALAMY
H Hosten (Gugu orld in 1980, and when
Mbatha-Raaw) became the Eric Morley died BRAINS
first black woman to be in 2000, & BEAUTY
crowned MMiss World. The controversial
r
Hosten (right) later (Keeley Hawes), pageant still
said that the contest took over as exists (Priyanka
offered hher more CEO. Julia Chopra, right,
opportuunities to (right) added a won in 2000), but
travel, sstudy and charity e ent, contestants are
work thhan she may Beauty W th now judged on their
otherwwise have A Purpos e, to charitable work too,
had access to. the compe not just their looks.
etition.

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